The Black House

Chapter 3

I couldn't open my eyes. It was the first thing I tried to do. No matter where I turned my head all I could see was black. Then I noticed the pressure on my wrist's & ankles, hands. Strong hands gripped me down, unable to move. Fear gripped at my heart, my breathing becoming shallow. I opened my mouth to scream, but before I could even make a sounds, something slimy & warm forced it's way into my mouth, and I cried as I felt it creep down my throat further and further till I couldn't breath. Tears streamed out of my eyes as I gagged on whatever was assaulting me. I felt hot breath on my neck as something whispered in my ear, "Get. Out."

I woke with a gasp, laughing myself out of a laying position. I fell to my hands and knees and coughed. Still gagging from...whatever that had been. Hands where suddenly on my shoulders and back, I shrieked crawling backwards out of their reach. Voices I recognized, but couldn't yet understand flooded my ears. I took a breathe and tried to open my eyes again. I wanted to cry when  they opened to see my friends. 3 worried faces hovered right above me. I took a deep breathe trying to calm myself. Finally my ears decided to translate what I hearing. Emery was adamantly stating we should call 911. Connor was fighting her on the idea, while Eric was trying to get me to look at him. I scanned the room and found Elizabeth starring at us all from the corner of the room, her face expressionless. But there was something about her eyes.....the fingers snapping I front of my face finally caught my attention. And I snapped back, finally getting full control over my sensuous. Two hands cupped my face as Eric came into view, his face inches from my own. "Melody? Are you okay can you hear me?" I tried to nod my head between his hand, but quickly switched to a verbal response. "Yeah, yes sorry. I....." my mind spun, what had just happened? "I got light headed on the step and" and I seen a face. Not just any face, one I never wanted to see ever again. Fear shot through my core, I felt it head to toe. I shook my head. No. Absolutely not. This was all Elizabeth and her stupid story getting in my head. "And my blood sugar must have dropped I'm so sorry you guys. I didn't mean to scare you." Emery looked relived, her big brown eyes almost filled with tears. Connor sat back pulling her with him, but Eric. The look on his face said he didn't believe a word I'd said, "Right. So seeing as she's just fine can we continue exploring please?" I looked at Elizabeth again, she hadn't moved- but was also no longer just staring at me. In fact it almost seemed as if she wouldn't look at me. Her eyes bouncing from Emery to Connor, then to the big grandfather clock in the front left corner of the room. Emery & Connor stood to follow as Eric interjected. "I'm gonna make Mel stay here for a sec, you guys go ahead it's a small house we'll find you." Elizabeth abruptly huffed & rolled her eyes. Leaving the room without another word. Emery looked at me expectantly. I grabbed her hand reassuringly. "Really I'm okay, I'll grab a granola bar from my bag and be good as new!" She smiled. "Okay, Connor let hurry we can't leave her alone." They quickly went after Elizabeth, it sounded like they went to the laundry room we'd explored just moments earlier. Eric grabbed me from my seat on the floor and placed me gingerly back on the sofa they'd uncovered in the front room. Without a word he stood picked up my black backpack from the side of the couch. He opened the zipper, and quickly found the granola bar stash I had hidden in the pocket. He opened it before handing it to me. I chewed on it numbly. "So you're a diabetic?" I nodded, "Since I was 8. I've always had it under control, I'm usually a lot better at keeping track and not letting this happen." He just looked at me. "What?" He raised his eyebrow in question. "Well I'm waiting for the truth." I bite my lip. "What are you talking about." "I saw your face when you turned around Mel. I heard you scream. You were scared. No, not just scared. You looked terrified Melody." I shook my head and sighed.  "Okay. I am 100% positive it's my imagination running wild okay? I just, I thought I saw someone standing behind you on the stairs and their face...their eyes....it did scare me okay? But again I MUST have imagined it." He picked up my hand in both of his, pushing on my palm with his thumbs in an oddly soothing way. "We'll for the record....you just scared the shit out of me." His blue eyes met mine with such sincerity. I blushed looking down at the floor. "I'm sorry. Really I am. I didn't mean to cause a scene. But let's move on and go explore the upstairs ya?" He smiles and took my hand, slapping it hard like a high 5 before slipping his fingers in mine like one movement. He stood first, pulling me up behind him, only he hadn't moved like I expected him too, and I bumped right into his chest. I giggled an apology and went to take a step back, but his other hand went to the small of my back keeping my in place. "Don't worry, I got you." He whispered into my ear before winking. Shivers ran down my spine, my breathing quickened; and then he turned without another word, pulling my hand to make sure I followed right behind. I felt trepidation hit me as we came up the final few stairs. I looked around waiting for something, anything to just pop out. But my feet hit the top step and....nothing. No warning signs, no faces. I grinned at Eric as he glanced at me, "told you it was my imagination." He rolled his eyes and lead us into the first room. It was small. Like unusually small. The walls and floor were practically the same dingy brown color.  One door stood to the right, Eric opened it to reveal a towel cupboard. The narrow shelves not allowing